Rotary engine.



H. D. NBWBURG.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21, 1912. 1,065,962.

H. D. NEWBURG.

ROTARY ENGINE.

v APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1912.

1,065,962. Patented July 1, 1913.

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v Romer ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1 1913.

Application filed September y21, 1 912. Serial No. 721,588.

To all 'whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HENRY D. NEWBURG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe city of La Crosse, county of La Crosse and Sta-te of Wisconsin, have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in R0- t-ary Engines,- of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines and has for its object the production of an engine of this character which will be capable of operation through the medium of expanding steam, gas, coinpressed air or other .compressed fluid.

A further object is the production of an engine as mentioned which will be of durable and 'economical constructionv and etilcient in operationu Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in whichi Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section of a rotary engine embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on line --w of Fig. l,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rotary element in a diferent position from which the s ame is shown in Figp2, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a fragment of the rotary element of the engine detached, and Fig. l5 is a fragmentary view of the inner surface of the engine `casing in which are mounted slide valves included in the invention.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a tubular cylindrical casing 1l which Ais formed of two parts, as shown, which are connected by screws 2 and nuts 3, 4the lower part being provided with a suitable base 4. Ro-

tatably mounted within the casing 1 is a tu-.

bular cylindrical'rotary element 5, the latter being held against relative longitudinal 'movement in casmg 1 by means'of inwardly extending circumferential flanges 6 and 7V formed at the extremities of said easing,

flange 6 engaging against one end of element 5, .fiange `7 engaging a circumferential groove 8 formed in the periphery of said elementl adjacent the opposite end thereof. Spaced in the periphery of the rotary element 5 is a plurality of circumferential grooves 9 in each of which A,is formed a piston vane l0, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. .The grooves 9, during operation of the engine, constitute annular expansion chambers, Communicating with each of said chambers is an admission pipe l1 through which the explosive .charge is admitted and an exhaust pipe 12, said admission pipes 11 being connected by a manifold 13 whichleads to a carbureter or lother source of explosive mixture supply, the pipes 12 being connected with manifold 14 which opens into the outside atmosphere. Also communicating with each of said chambers is an electric spark plug 15 of conventional construction, which, during operation of the engine, will be so timed as to ignite the charges admitted to the chambers at the proper intervals. The inner ends of spark plugs 15 are positioned in recesses 16" formed upon the inner surface of casing 1 so as to permit .of the passage of piston vanes 10.

Cooperating 'with each of the grooves or chambers 9 are radially movable slide valves 1 18 and 19, said valves being mounted in radial slots provided in ycasing 1 and in housings 20 and 21 which are secured to sald .casing over-said slots, as clearly shown in the several views. Cooperating with said valvesv are helical compression springs 22 which serve to normally hold Said valves at their inner terminals of movement or in traversing posit-ions.4 The valves 17 and 19 are of such a Width as to be adapted to lit snugly inthe groove engaged thereby, and so that in the operation of the engine shoulders 23, which are formed in the groove adjacent the piston vane 10, will serve to hold said .valves in open posit-ion for a short period of time after the passage of the piston vane thereby. Said shoulders 23 are formed by simplyreducing the width of the groove, as shown in Fig. 4, the extremities .of the inner'edges of said valves contacting with saidl shoulders during the operation of the engine, as will be readily understood. Valve 18, however, is narrower than the valves 17 and 19, and so' that during rotation of the rotary .element 5 the formerl will move to closing position immediately after the in Fig. 3f

In the operation ofthe engine the explopassage of the vane 10, as shown sive mixture will be drawn into the expansion chambers or grooves 9 by the suction created through the passage of piston yanes 10 by the admission ports 11. The charges thus drawn into saidchambers will follow the piston vanes 10, the valves 19 being held in open positions or at their outer terminals' of movement by means of shoulders 23, for a short period after the passage of said pistonfvanes in order to allow for the passage of asuiiicient quantity of explosive lnixt-'urefto the explosion chambers which willbe constituted between the piston vanes 10 .and t-he valves 19 when' the latter are moved inwardly. After said valves 19 have been released from shoulders 23 and have moved to their inward positions, the charges will be ignited by igniters 15. The reac- 1 tion upon the valves 19 and the expansion of 10 to cause rotation of the element 5.

sage of piston vane 10 coperating therewith and valve 17 will move to closing position to effectually traverse the increased width of the groove after the passage of shoulders 23. Thus, 'with the present construction, a charge will be drawn into each of the grooves or chambers 9, exploded 'and .the spent gases exhausted with each rotation of the rotary element. Through the provision of a lurality or series o grooves or expansion c ambers, as described, a powerful torque may be developed.

In order to alleviate friction, bearing rollers '24 may be interposed, as shown, between the contacting surfaces of the casing 1 and rotating element 5, said rollers beingpreferably mounted in slots provided in the pei` riphery of said rotating element, as shown.

Arranged within the lrotating element 5 at either extremity thereof is a fan 25 adapted, when said element is rotated, to create a drafttherethrough in order to cool the same. Provided at one end of member 5 is a conical seat 26 adapted to constitute one part of a friction clutch for connecting the engine with any mechanism f which 1t is desired to drive. l v

A rotary ,engine of the construction set forth is simple and economical in constructionv and hence may be manufactured at a low cost, and the same will be found to be highly efficient in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1,

therefore, do not wislitobe limited to the precise details as set forth, but desire to avail myself-o-f such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An engine of the class described com-v prising a casing; a. rotary element. Vtherein having a circumferential 7lgroove constituting an expansion chamber; a piston' vane on said rotary element arranged', in said groove; means for admitting a charge of explosive mixture to said chamber; means of exhaust from said chamber; an igniter, said admission means being arranged bet-Ween said exhaust means and said igniter; valves mounted in said casing adapted to traverse said chamber and to move outwardly to permit of the passage of said pistoni"'vane during rotation of said rotary element, one

of said valves being arranged between said admission means and said exhaust means, and one between said admission means and said igniter; and means on said rotary elementfor holding said last mentioned valve in open position for a short-interval after the piston vane has passed the same, substantially as described. A

2. An engine of the class described comprising a casing; a 4rotaryelement therein having a circumferential groove constituting van expansion chamber; a piston vane on said rotary element arranged in said groove; means for admitting a chargeof explosive mixture to said chamber; means of exhaust from said chamber; an igniter, said admission means being arranged between said exhaust means and said igniter; valves mounted in said casing adapted to traverse said chamber and to move outwardly to permit of the passage of said piston vane during rotation of said rotary element, one of said {valves being arranged between said admission means andsald exhaust means, and one between said admission means and said igniter; and shoulders at the sides of said groove for holding said last mentioned valve in open position for a short interval vafter the piston vane has passed the same, substantially as described.

3. An engine of the class described comprising a casing; arotary element mountedin said casing having a circumferential groove inits periphery constituting an expansion chamber; a piston vane on said rotary element traversing said groove; means for admitting a charge of explosive mixture to said chamber; an igniter, said admission means being arranged hetweensaid exhaust means and said igniter; valves mounted in said casing adapted to traverse said chamber and be moved outwardly to permit of the passage of said piston vane during rot-ation of said rotary' element, there being a pair of said Valves arranged bet-Ween said admission means and saidlexhaust means, and one arranged between said admission means and .said igniter; and shoulders at the sides of said groove for holding said last mentioned valve in open position for a short interval after the piston vane has passed the same, one of said pair of valves being likewise affected by said shoulders, the other of said pair of valves being adapted for reception between said shoulders, substantially as described. 4

4. An engine of the class described comprising a casing; a rotary element therein having a circumferential groove constituting an expansion chamber; a piston vane on said rotary element arranged in said chamber; means for admitting a charge of explosive mixture to said'chamber; means of exhaust from said chamber; -an igniter; valves operableby the movement of said piston vane interposedbetween said admission means, said exhaust means, and said igniter; and 'a conical seat in one end of said rotary member constituting one part of a friction clutch, substantially as described.v

5. An engine of the class described comprising a casing; a rotary element therein having a circumferential groove constitut-y ing an expansion chamber; a piston vane on said rotary element arranged in said chamber; means for admitting a charge of explosive mixture to said chamber; means of exhaust from said chamber; an igniter; valves operable by the movement of said piston 'vane interposed between said admission means, said exhaust means, Aand said igniter; and roller bearings interposed between -the adjacent surfaces of said casing and rotary element. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'HENRYll NEVVBURG. Witnesses EUGENE VVILKINS, O. R. SKAAR. 

